Genesis 28

Genesis 28:1-5

We have laws, (1.) Jacob’s parting with his parents to go to Padan-aram; the charge his father gave him, ver. 1, 2. The blessing he sent him away with, ver. 3, 4. His obedience to the orders given him, ver. 5—10. And the influence this had upon Esau, ver. 6. (2.) Jacob’s meeting with God, and his communion with him by the war. And there, 1. His vision of the ladder, ver. 11, 12. 2. The gracious promises God made him, ver. 13, 14, 15. 3. The impression this made upon him, ver. 16—19. 4. The view he made to God upon this occasion, ver. 20, 21, 22.

v Chap. xxii. 2. & Col. iii. 18. 3. v Chap. xxii. 4. v Chap. xxii. 5. v Chap. xxii.

AND Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, ‘Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2. ‘Arise, go to ‘Padan-aram, to the house of ‘Bethuel, thy mo-

ther’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of ‘Laban, thy mother’s brother. 3. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people: 4. And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land, wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5. And Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went to Padan-aram, unto Laban son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

Rebekah’s advice, we find, prevailed on Isaac; and now Jacob is sent away into a distant land, scarce better than a servant, and repelling a lingering eagle. Also, Thoife who are God’s people, must expect the cross with the crown, the suffering with the blessing. Observe,

1. The charge given him, v. 2, whether he should go, and for what purpose. Note, (1.) It is comfortable to have a godly friend’s house, where we can find an abidam. 2. It is not duty not to be unusually joked with unbeliever. 3. Cor. vi. 4.

2. The blessing bestowed on him. Isaac now was convinced it was God’s will it should be Jacob’s, and therefore confirms the promise. Fruitfulness and numbers should enlarge his house, and Abraham’s emphistical blessing, the Messiah, spring from him. Tho’ now a distant eagle, the possession of Canaan is his own, and Esau’s abode shall not admit his title. Note, Faith can trust more securely upon the promise, than any other tenure.

3. Jacob sets off without delay, without a servant, on foot, in halfe, more like a flight than a journey, and unknowing when he shall return. Behold, how God trains him up for greatness by humiliation, and teaches him to govern by his servitude; we find no murmuring at his lot. Note, If they who are reduced to the lowest ebb, have the promise of God with them, they have enough to entitle and comfort them.

4. ¶ When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him, he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 7. And that Jacob obeyed his father, and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram, 8. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father: 9. Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had, ‘Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son,’ the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

Genesis 28:6-9

Esau began now to see his eath choice, and said would mend it by a match more to his father’s mind. In order to which, he takes a daughter of Ishmael: and thus instead of mending the matter, he but more confirmed the exclusion of his seed, for the bond woman was solemnly cast out and rejected. Note, 1. They who have only an eye to abode men in what they do, will often meet with bitter disappointments. 2. They who rest on partial presentations, lie down but the more securely under the wrath of God. 3. It is too late to be wife, when the opportunity is lost.

10. ¶ And Jacob went out from Beer-beba, and went toward ‘Haran. 11. And he lighted upon a certain place, and carried there all night, because the sun was set: and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13. And behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: and the land whereof thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. 14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all place whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee.

Genesis 28:10-15

We have here Jacob on his journey to Syria, and a long walk he hath had; night approaching, he bethinks himself of a lodging. Observe,

1. He had a hard bed, and a cold pillow for weary bones to rest upon; but he had God’s blessing and care over him, and then he can sleep in peace.

2. His dream made up for all the inconveniences of his lodging. Bethuel Christ about 1733. Sighted v Chap. xxii. 2. 3. Chap. xxii. 1. 4. Heb. An affirming of prayer. 5. Chap. xii. 6. 7. Heb. Of thy, by waring. 8. Chap. xxii. 9. ¶ Heb. May end in the year, &c. 1. Chap. xxxv. 1. caller-Rahmuth 2. Chap. xxv. 13. 1. Hs. xii. 2. 3. Acts xii. 2. v John i. 17. Sec. i. 18. 4. Chap. xxxv. 1. & xt. vii. 3. v Chap. xiii. 18. 5. Heb. Behold forth. 6. Deut. xii. xxv. 7. Chap. xii. 3. & xxviii. 18. & xxix. 18. & xxix. 4. & xxix. 11. Before Chill 1913.

ing, v. 12, 13. He was without a guard, but angelic hoffs watched over him. Note, there are the mindsting (petits, who, though unseen, still minister to the heirs of salvation. He was without a friend, but God appeared for him, let down his ladder of grace, and opened to him the gate of heaven. Now, Christ is this ladder; no man cometh to the father, but by him.

3. God’s promise. A confirmation, to him and his feed, of the covenant made to Abraham: and moreover an assurance of protection and provision whithersoever he went. Note, (1.) If God be our guardian, no danger can come nigh us. (2.) Whom he loves, he never leaves.